03-05-2026
~5 mins read

Magic moments happen between roles

Do you know those moments at work when something suddenly clicks? When a thought becomes clear, a connection becomes visible, or an idea sparks? These moments happen surprisingly often when technical writers come into play.

In my career, I have often been “the one with the unknown role.” Not because of bad intent, but simply because many people had never worked with a technical writer before.
And honestly? I like that. I like this sense of new territory, those slightly puzzled looks in the beginning, that unspoken question: What does she actually do?

For me, that’s a positive challenge. Because that’s exactly when I get the chance to show what this role is really about. That it’s not just about writing, but about understanding, connecting, and thinking things through together.

Of course, the unknown isn’t comfortable for everyone. It can create resistance or uncertainty about having to adjust, change the way you’ve been working, or even invest more time in someone else because “she doesn’t really understand the technical stuff anyway.” Been there, done that. So many times. And you know what? It has always turned out well. Even when it was clear that someone like me was needed, after all, someone created that job posting, it was rarely clear how this role would actually work until people started working together.

I strongly believe that when technical writers meet other roles and truly collaborate, that’s when things get magical. And I’ve seen this play out in so many different constellations. 

Here are a few that stand out to me. 

From “I don’t need this” to “aha”

Don’t throw stones at me, but I’ve often experienced the most skepticism from developers.
“What are they going to do besides documentation? I can do that myself. Especially with AI.”
Well, sure, you can think that if you don’t yet know what’s coming. 

And then we’re standing together at a whiteboard.
I ask questions. A lot of questions. Because I really want to understand. Why did you build it this way? What happens if we take this scenario further? What’s the background here? Who actually uses this, and where might things get tricky?

While we’re brainstorming, something happens. All the answers, side thoughts, and clarifications start to form a bigger picture. Connections become visible that were previously implicit. Things that were “kind of clear” are suddenly said out loud and can be questioned.
And then the moment shifts.

“Wow, we didn’t think of that.”
“Wait, that actually impacts…”
“Let’s continue with this.”
“By the way, your idea, I could quickly build something from that.”

These are my magic moments. And they happen when people build understanding together instead of just working next to each other.

When the same thing has different names

Working with product managers often starts from a different place. The user focus is there, the connection to UX as well, and communication already plays a big role. And still, things sometimes don’t quite work, because the language doesn’t fully align. 

Tech speaks “tech.” Product speaks “business.” And often, people mean the same thing but call it something different. This can go unnoticed for quite a while until friction appears. By then, some code might already have been written.

This is where I often come in. I listen, ask questions, align terminology, and make visible where things already belong together. It’s less about simplifying and more about creating a shared language. Clarity for the win. And you can really feel the impact later in the process, because things become more efficient.

When collaboration suddenly feels easy

And then there’s working with UX.
Every time, it feels a bit like finding a missing puzzle piece. The way of thinking is similar, the focus on the user is shared, and the methods overlap or complement each other. There’s less need to figure each other out, and you get to real collaboration faster.

Suddenly, there is flow instead of coordination effort. Ideas build on each other, perspectives connect naturally. This kind of collaboration feels like a multiplier.
I actually wrote about this before: Why UX and Technical Writing make a Dream Team

Where you wouldn’t expect it

And then there are roles where collaboration might not seem obvious at first. HR or HR Marketing, for example. Surprised?
There is a lot of potential here. Employer branding, connecting with tech teams, coordinating tech blogs, or supporting social media. Anywhere technical topics need to become visible and understandable, there is room for this kind of collaboration.
And I can tell you, it’s a lot of fun and another great variation within the work of a technical writer.
The same applies to many other roles, like sales, Scrum Masters, marketing, and more.

Every time, the context is different. The people are different. The questions are different. But the principle stays the same. Wherever different perspectives meet and someone helps connect them, something new emerges.

Where the magic happens

Looking back at all these interactions, this magic is a very important part of the role for me.
It is not about working within one discipline. It is about working between them.

Technical writers create connections between people, ways of thinking, domains, and perspectives. These are the moments when clarity appears, when ideas evolve, and when individual viewpoints turn into shared understanding. This is exactly where the magic happens.

And maybe that’s what makes this role so exciting for me. Every time I step into new territory, I feel that excitement, like a little kid, knowing I get to show what’s possible, and then seeing how those initial question marks turn into real collaboration.